WHEREAS, Paul Henning was born in Independence in 1911 and grew up in the community and graduated from William Chrisman High School; and WHEREAS, Henning enjoyed an early career in Kansas City radio and was a pioneer in television; and WHEREAS, Henning went on to become the writer and producer of widely popular television shows “The Beverly Hillbillies”, “Green Acres”, and “Petticoat Junction”; and WHEREAS, Henning drew up many of his early experiences in Missouri and his fondness of the Ozarks as material for the television shows; and WHEREAS, Henning’s “untold story” as the creator of rural television comedy is finally told in a new memoir “The First Beverly Hillbilly” written by his wife Ruth in 1994; and WHEREAS, this memoir is being published as a cooperative project of the Jackson County Historical Society (where the manuscript was found) and the Mid-Continent Public Library’s Woodneath Press; and WHEREAS, this project would not have been possible without the assistance of the Henning children — Linda, Carol, and Tony along with their cousin, Independence resident, Mary Childers; and WHEREAS, this project celebrates and brings new interest in the life and accomplishments of Paul Henning; and WHEREAS, September 26th of this year marks the 55th Anniversary of the debut of Paul Henning’s signature accomplishment, “The Beverly Hillbillies”. NOW, THEREFORE, I, Eileen N. Weir, Mayor of the City of Independence, Missouri, by virtue of the authority vested in me, do hereby proclaim September 26, 2017 as Paul and Ruth Henning Recognition Day: “Y’all come back now y’hear?”in the City of Independence and encourages all citizens to recognize Henning’s accomplishments and cultural achievements as an American cultural icon in hopes that his story and be retold and shared with others.